Charlie and Charm Read Free

you’re lucky you’ve got Charm, Charlie, because he’s such a great jumper!”
    I made myself smile back, but all I could think of was how much Apple would’ve loved jumping a whole course and how we never got the chance to try it.
    Skye was really unsure about having a go and Sally promised her that no one has to do anything they don’t want to here at Pony Camp. “It’s no problem if you want to join in with Group A while we go out on the course,” she told her, then said to us all, “And if I don’t feel that some of you are ready to tackle cross country, I’ll ask you to join the other group.”

    Ricosha and Tameka gave each other a worried look then, because they weren’t sure Sally would think they were ready. She’s going to decide who’s allowed to do it after tomorrow morning’s lesson, and I really hope she will let them join in. It’ll be way more fun if we can all do it together.
    Oh, gotta go now. Ricosha’s saying that today’s dryer-uppers have finished (we’ve got a rota – I’m on it with Skye on Wednesday), and Millie and Skye have just come in to change ’cos we’re all going swimming!

I’m snuggled up in bed with Frieda - writing this by the light of my torch!
    Swimming was really fun and so was running back through the house in our towels, doing giant leaps so as not to make too many wet footprints. Then we had showers and Jody helped us dry our hair and made us all hot chocolate in the kitchen.

    Millie and Skye are both asleep now, but we were all whispering for ages after lights out. Skye is still worried about doing the cross country and Millie was trying to tell her how great she did in the lesson this afternoon. I said something about how Skye shouldn’t worry because she’ll easily manage the course, and suddenly everything seemed to go wrong.
    â€œWell, I’m sorry I’m not as confident as you, Charlie!” she said in a grumbly voice, and then got up and marched off to the loo.

    â€œWell done, Charlie,” Millie whispered.
    â€œWhat did I say?” I hissed. “I only meant she’s a really good rider.”
    â€œWell, you said, ‘don’t be so silly, it’s easy-peasy !’ like she’s stupid for worrying.”

    My stomach flipped over and I felt my face go burning hot. Had I really said that? “I didn’t mean it that way,” I insisted.
    When Skye came back I said sorry about my words coming out wrong, and how I’d only meant it like she’s a really good rider.
    Luckily, she was OK about it – phew! She’s still not sure about doing the cross country, but she’s going to think about it at least.
    Goodnight!

Tuesday , I’m quickly writing this before we get called down for lunch
    Well, now I know for sure that Charm doesn’t like me.

    In our lesson we were working on the skills we’ll need for the cross country. Me and Charm started off OK-ish, but when we were all practising our jumping position down the long side he took advantage of me not having as much control as usual and kept veering off the track on purpose. I was trying really hard, but he just wouldn’t listen to me.
    Sally didn’t see it like that, though. I wish she didn’t think Charm was so perfect, then she might stop blaming me for his mistakes. She called out, “Charlie, the more annoyed you get the less Charm is going to co-operate with youbecause he senses your tension. Breathe out, sit deep in the saddle and relax your arms and shoulders.”

    I did it, but I felt embarrassed with everyone watching.
    â€œThat’s better,” she said. “Now, start again.” I tried to stay relaxed, but I still felt upset after the lesson. Maybe that’s why an awful thing happened in the Pony Care lecture. Something else came out of my mouth all wrong, like it did to Skye last night. Only this time it was to Jemima.

    I wasn’t going to write this down, but I can’t seem to